How pets, especially dogs, can prep you for parenthood.

A Tongue and Cheek look at the similarities :)

• Dogs and kids put everything they can into their mouths and need to be taught what is ok and what isn't
• Dogs have taught us how to seriously baby(dog) proof
• Dogs like some kids end up in the emergency room for illnesses
• Sleep is a luxury with young children/infants and puppies
• Cleaning is constant with dogs and kids
• Daily or almost daily outings to the park for walking/playing
• Dogs and kids love playing and learning
• Dogs and kids love music
• Dogs and kids both need to socialize
• Dogs need teething bones to chew while teething and kids need teething chews you freeze for them
• Both dogs and kids need to be potty trained
• Dogs have foods they can never have while kids shouldn't have honey or nuts until after 3 years of age
• Dogs will also be noise sensitive if not exposed to noises growing up as will kids.  Bring on the noise :)
• Dogs and kids can have explosive accidents at the worst time (guests visiting) but it all cleans up the same
• Dogs and kids leap without mind for consequences (at least the kids learn but our dogs really don't)
• Dogs and kids will drag out every toy they have and leave it all over the house
• Dogs and kids always want what you have versus what they have
• Dogs and kids always need you "Right Now" as soon as you're on the phone or in a conversation with someone
• Sleeping with dogs or toddlers is at best a three ring circus as they snuggle really close almost pushing you out of bed or you contort your body in attempts to sleep you can barely move in the morning
• Dogs and kids need routines

At the end of the day though dogs and kids are 200% worth it!  Our dogs and cats are family; our kids.  We can't wait to be parents and share our love of animals with our child(ren).